The many Smithsonian gardens near the National Mall offer inviting public spaces to visitors, allowing them ample opportunities to enjoy the garden furnishings featured inside a number of garden ''rooms.'' These garden rooms are places where visitors can savor the sound and play of water in an ornate cast iron fountain or discover the difference between a bench and a settee (settees have arms; benches do not).

The Horticulture Services Division collection currently includes at least two dozen different seating designs and more than 35 distinctive motifs on urns and vases. Both the Smithsonian's Archives of American Gardens and the Smithsonian Institution Libraries provide visual and textual documentation about the many patterns and forms included in the collection.

Six design periods are represented in the Horticulture Services Division Garden Furnishings Collection:

Gothic Revival (1840-1870):

Carved details and pierced elements such as quatrefoils and pointed arches are associated with the medieval crafts traditions of these rare pieces. Similar motifs are found on interior chairs and settees within the nearby Smithsonian Castle. Furniture designs varied according to the materials that were used and the training of regional craftsmen.

Rustic (1840-1890):

Rustic elements in the form of twigs, leaves, and snakes represent man's desire to tame the wilderness. This design idea was suggested almost a century earlier when chairs and tables were assembled from actual branches. The juxtaposition of different design styles, as shown here with the rustic settee beside the much more formal urn and pedestal, demonstrates how dramatically people's tastes and preferences have changed over time.

Renaissance Revival (1860-1875):

This style was derived from 16th century Italian interpretation of classical antiquity. Decorative swag rims and griffin heads often adorn urns and vases. Chairs, inspired by architectural designs, feature shaped panels of cut out linear decoration. The creation of garden ''rooms'' required seating that was easily moved into conversational groupings or eased the visit of lone mourners to a family cemetery.

Rococo Revival (1860- 1880):

The curve is important as a characteristic of this style. Florid, French-influenced components expressing a sense of movement and delicacy include pierced seats, curved and tapering legs, serpentine tracery backs crested with blossoms, and frilled C- and S-shaped scrollwork. Like many of the garden furnishings in the Smithsonian collection, this ornate rococo revival settee was made from cast iron. During the casting process, molten iron was poured into a mold and then cooled.

Naturalistic (1870- 20th century) :

Designers from New York to New Orleans created realistic looking motifs including grape clusters, ferns, leaves, passionflowers, lilies of the valley, morning glories, squirrels, and swans. Stylistic details differed depending upon which region of the U. S. the piece originated.

Contemporary (1900-I950):

Twentieth century technological advancements, including the introduction of extruded aluminum and durable plastic, signaled a waning interest in cast iron furniture. Small gauge steel wirework furniture was highly decorative, insect resistant, easily portable (unlike heavy cast iron), and could withstand the outside elements (unlike rattan.) Here, cushions are added to a Day Lily arrangement for extra comfort. This design dates to the early l950s.

Plant Containers

Urns and vases in the 19th century garden came to prominence with Sir Charles Barry (1795-1860) who laid out a number of large formal gardens in the Italianate style that were much admired by Americans. In the Smithsonian gardens, plant containers are used to create atmosphere, drama, grandeur or whimsy. They also define space and direct the eye. A row of identical urns in the Enid A. Haupt Garden (left) helps frame its perimeters.

Urns echoed furniture motifs to help achieve a uniform garden style. This griffin from the handle of a cast iron urn represents strength and agility. Mythological figures appear in a number of historical decorative arts styles. Archeological finds of the time also helped inspire classical design motifs.

Mass production techniques of the Industrial Revolution in mid-nineteenth century America enabled cast iron furniture and urns to be produced quickly and cheaply. Manufacturers published catalogs with elaborate engravings and descriptions of their wares to encourage sales. Customers could choose an urn and pedestal that reflected their personal style from a number of interchangeable pieces in a foundry's inventory.

Given the huge variety of designs available, the importance of choosing a style and form that complement the architecture of a particular home and garden becomes clear. Formal, ornate pieces might be found on a grand terrace, while plainer and smaller pieces would be used in a more secluded area.